Multi-person racing canoe
A multi-person racing canoe that can be assembled in sections to make different canoe configurations for different numbers of people. When the sections are disassembled, they pack for storage and/or transportation. A particular embodiment of the present invention uses a common tail section with an optional middle section and different bow sections to configure as a 2-man, 4-man or 6-man racing canoe. The sections can be coupled to form the various configurations with a rhino horn-shaped fastener. An outrigger or AMA can be mounted at several different positions fore and aft in the different configurations.
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/166,767 filed Jun. 24, 2005. Application Ser. No. 11/166,767 is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of racing canoes and more particularly to a racing canoe that splits apart into two, three or more sections.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Racing canoes are known around the world and particularly in the Pacific Islands such as Hawaii. Most racing canoes have a single long narrow hull with an outrigger on one side. Racing canoes have been made for 2, 4 and 6 or more persons. Prior art racing canoes for different numbers of persons typically are made different sizes. A canoe for 6 persons simply must be longer than a canoe for 2 persons.
It would be advantageous to have a racing canoe that comes apart in sections for storage and transportation where the different sections can be assembled in several different ways to produce racing canoes for different numbers of people. In particular, it would be advantageous to have a single racing canoe that can be assembled in sections to produce a 2-man, 4-man or 6-man racing canoe as desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a racing canoe that can be assembled in sections to make different canoe configurations for different numbers of people. When the sections are disassembled, they pack for storage and/or transportation. A particular embodiment of the present invention uses a common tail section with an optional middle section and different bow sections to configure as a 2-man, 4-man or 6-man racing canoe.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The present invention relates to a racing canoe that can be assembled in sections to produce different canoes for different numbers of persons. An example of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in
The struts (called IAKUs) between the outrigger (called an AMA) and the main part of the canoe can be placed into different IAKU ports to achieve different settings or positions for the AMA in the different configurations. In the 2-man configuration there is only one setting. In the 4-man configuration, there are two settings: forward and rear. In the 6-man configuration, there are three possible settings: forward, middle, and rear.
Turning to
The middle section, normally used only in the 6-man configuration, contains two seats 21 and two sets of foot-wells 22. There are no IAKU ports on the middle section of this embodiment. The bow section of the 4-man and 6-man configurations contain two seats 23, 24 and two sets of foot-wells 25, 26 (one for each seat). The bow section also contains two IAKU ports (the #2 and #1 ports) 27, 28. The #2 IAKU port 27 is at the back of the bow section behind the rear seat. The #1 IAKU port 28 is forward of the front foot-wells. The bow section for the 2-man configuration (shown in
When the 2-man configuration is used, the 2-man bow section is normally mated with the common tail section. Straight IAKUs are normally used that fit into the #3 and #4 IAKU ports on the tail section. The AMA has only one position. The rear seat 16 controls the rudder through the rear seat foot-wells 15 using rudder pedals 14.
When the 4-man configuration is used, the 4-man/6-man bow section 8 can be directly mated to the common tail section 2. The #2 and #3 IAKU ports 20, 27 end up next to each other. In the 4-man configuration in this embodiment, the AMA 9 can have a forward and rear position. When the AMA is in the forward position, the #1 and #2 IAKU ports 19, 20 are used, and when the AMA is in the rear position, the #3 and #4 IAKU ports 27, 28 are used.
The AMA 4, 9 is normally mounted on the port side of the canoe (the left side looking from the tail toward the bow). In the 4-man configuration, the AMA can be placed in the forward position by putting the IAKUs into the #1 and #2 IAKU ports 28, 27; it can be put in the rear position by putting the IAKUs into the #3 and #4 IAKU ports 27, 28. In the 6-man configuration, the AMA can be placed in the forward position by putting the IAKUs into the #1 and #2 IAKU ports 28, 27; it can be placed in the middle position by putting the IAKUs into the #2 and #3 IAKU ports 27, 20; and it can be placed in the rear position by putting the IAKUs into the #3 and #4 IAKU ports 20, 19 as shown in dotted lines in
Several descriptions and illustrations have been presented to aid in understanding the present invention. One skilled in the art will realize that numerous changes and variations can be made within the spirit of the invention. Each of these changes and variations is within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A high performance multi-section outrigger racing canoe configurable for different numbers of people comprising:
- a plurality of separable canoe sections, combinable to produce a canoe for 2, 4 or 6 persons, wherein at least one of these sections is a tail section having a rudder and rudder pedal control;
- a plurality of fasteners coupling said canoe sections together, said fasteners being inserted into each of said sections to be coupled together, said fasteners being attached at each end to said respective canoe section;
- at least one elongated outrigger coupled to said canoe sections with a pair of struts, said struts removably attached to said canoe sections at a plurality of different positions fore and aft, wherein said struts can be moved fore and aft as said canoe is configured for 2, 4 or 6 persons.
2. The multi-section canoe of claim 1 wherein said fasteners have a threaded stainless steel tip.
3. The multi-section canoe of claim 1 wherein said 2-man canoe is formed by coupling a first bow section to said tail section, said 4-man canoe formed by coupling a second bow section to said tail section, said 6-man canoe formed by coupling said second bow section to a middle section and said middle section to said tail section.
4. The multi-section canoe of claim 1 wherein a 2-man canoe is formed by coupling a bow section to said tail section.
5. The multi-section canoe of claim 1 wherein a 4-man canoe is formed by coupling a bow section to said tail section.
6. The multi-section canoe of claim 1 wherein a 6-man canoe is formed by coupling a bow section to a middle section and said middle section to said tail section.
7. The multi-section canoe of claim 1 wherein said struts are curved.
8. The multi-section canoe of claim 1 wherein said struts are removably attached to said outrigger.
9. A combination multi-person racing canoe comprising:
- a bow section;
- an optional middle section;
- a tail section with a rudder;
- said bow section coupled to said tail section or optionally to said middle section with a removable fastener;
- said optional middle section, if used, coupled to said tail section with a removable fastener.
10. The combination multi-person racing canoe of claim 9 further comprising an outrigger.
11. The combination multi-person racing canoe of claim 10 wherein said outrigger can be mounted in a plurality of positions fore and aft.
12. The combination multi-person racing canoe of claim 9 wherein a bow section is coupled to said tail section to form a 2-man or 4-man configuration, and a bow section is coupled to said middle section with said middle section coupled to said tail section to form a 6-man configuration.
13. The combination multi-person racing canoe of claim 9 wherein said sections are coupled with a fastener.
14. The combination multi-person racing canoe of claim 13 wherein said fastener includes a metal tip.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 27, 2007
Publication Date: Dec 6, 2007
Inventor: John Martin (Kaneohe, HI)
Application Number: 11/796,568
International Classification: B63B 7/04 (20060101); B63B 39/00 (20060101);